Launching device for firing projectiles from a mortar



arch 29, 1949.

R. RODERICK 2,465,931 LAUNCHING DEVICE FOR FIRING PROJECTILES FROM A MORTAR Filed July 15, 1947 anuenl'o'd 0772a B Roderic/r Patented Mar. 29, 1949 LAUNCHING DEVI PRGJECTILES FROM A MURTAR Gtha R. Roderick, Cumberland, Md. Application July 15, 1947, Serial No. 761,033

(Cl. 89-l) 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to ammunition and more particularly to a novel launching device for firing projectiles from a mortar. Prior to the present invention small mortars, particularly those used for projecting shells containing chemicals were originally fired by dropping the projectile into the muzzle end of a smooth bore barrel, letting it slide down to the breech end of the barrel, where it would contact a fixed firing pin which acted to fire it back through the barrel. For firing at low elevations, this procedure was improved by providing a driver device comprising a small rocket charge attached to the nose of the projectile by means of an adapter. This driver contained a firing pin, provided With a pull ring. In operation the projectile Was laid in the muzzle of the mortar where it would rest due to the previously adjusted low elevation of the barrel. The gunner would then actuate the firing pin of the driver ring and the explosion of the driver charge would propel the shell down into the breech end of the barrel where it would strike the fixed firing pin and be repropelled out of the barrel. These and other prior procedures involved considerable hazar-d due to the fact that the non-uniform area of the blast at the mortar frequently endangered the gunner.

The primary object of the present invention is to eliminate these and other hazards by means of an improved launching device for projectiles. Another object is to provide such a device that will hold a .projectile in a muzzle even when elevated or depressed. An additional object is to provide such a device that can be operated from a position outside the area of blast of a sun. A further object is to provide such a device that will simultaneously release the projectile and fire the driver charge. Other equally important objects will more plainly appear from the detailed drawings and specification presented in exemplification but not in limitation of the present invention. Like reference characters represent like parts in the drawings which illustrate diagrammatically in Fig. 1, a side elevation of the end portion of the muzzle of a mortar having attached thereto the launching mechanism shown partly in longitudinal cross section and in engagement with a projectile and its repelling charge.

Fig. 2, a bottom view of the assembly shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, an end elevation thereof viewed toward the muzzle.

A preferred embodiment of the present invenby means of the pull crates on pivots 2E] and 2B ring 28.

CE FOR FIRING tion is shown in Fig. 1. The launching device I5 is shown attached to the muzzle Ii of a gun barrel by retaining hands it and adjusting bolts It. The projectile it! is shown in its operating position protruding from the muzzle M of the gun and having attached thereto by means of the adapter to its repelling driver 29, which contains a suitable rocket charge, arranged to force projectile it) to travel inwardly in the gun barrel. The body member 33 contains motor means preferably comprising a main spring housing 2| fitted with a bufier member ll of resilient material, and a main operating spring 25. Attached to the body 38 is a hand grip 22, the trigger safety lock 23 and trigger 2d pivoted at It, and provided with an extension arm l9 urged into engagement with the sear 25 by means of the sear spring H. Spring H is held in adjustment in housing &6 by means of adjusting screw 41, so that spring M will be in operative relationship With arm I9.

A cocking arm it extends rearwardly from yoke 2i in the rear pivot Zll. Yoke 21 eX- tends under the nose of the shell Ill, and opas shown in Fig. 3. The yoke 2i is provided with a spur or lip 36 which is adapted to engage the annular groove in the repellent adapter it as shown in Fig. 1. If desired the adapter 48 may be so designed that when attached to the shell IE it will form an annular groove between the nose of the shell and the adapter. The yoke 21 is also provided with a ring trigger 31 extending outwardly from lip 36 and arranged to project through the pull Extending downwardly from the yoke 2! is the sear arm 3| which is fixed to the sear 26 and which is connected to the piston rod 33 at the pivot 32. The piston rod 33 is pivoted at 34 to the piston 35 which acts as a retaining means for the main spring 25 in the housing H. The trigger lock 23 is pivoted at 43 and provided with the catch 4| also pivoted at 63. Adjustable lock control means is shown at 42 arranged to coact with the lock 23 so that it will hold the trigger 24 in proper operating position until the lock 23 is disengaged. The trigger 24 is provided with a guard member 44 which also protects the lock 23 and spring I I.

In operation the projectile I0 is laid in the gun muzzle I 4. The gunner presses downwardly on the cooking arm l3 so that the yoke 27 is elevated through pivots 20 and 20' until it engages the shell retaining lip 36 in the annular notch 35 in the driver adapter 40. At the same time the ring trigger 31 is positioned beneath the repelling driver 29 so that the gunner may then slip the pull ring 28 over the trigger 31. Concurrently the sear 26 moves into its forward pos'ition as shown in Fig. 1, and spring H urges arm I9 int-o engagement with sear 2B, which holds spring 25 in compression. Yoke 21 will now securely hold the projectile H1 in the gun muzzle l4 even though it is elevated above or depressed below the horizontal position.

In order to launch the projectile i0 inwardly into the gun barrel the gunner releases the safety lock 23 with his thumb and squeezes the trigger 24, which acting through its pivot l8 depresses the extension arm I9 and releases its engagement with the sear 26. This permits the main spring 25 to instantly expand and thrust piston 35 back against buffer I1. This thrust acting through rod 33, pivots 34 and 32, and the arm 3!, causes the simultaneous depression of the yoke 21 on its pivots 20 and 20. from the groove 45 and depresses the ring trigger 31, which acting against the pull ring 28 withdraws the firing pin 38 from the repelling driver 29. This explodes the rocket charge in the repellent 29 which forces the projectile l0 down from the muzzle M to the breech end of the barrel of the mortar where it strikes the firing pin therein and is propelled outwardly in the usual manner.

It will be seen that the present invention enables the gunner to grip the trigger 24 while standing well outside of the blast area whose forward limit is indicated at the line 39. This affords added protection from any accidental injury therefrom, permits greater accuracy in aiming, and increases the rate may be fired.

While applicant has presented the foregoing description of his improved launching mechanism in detail with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, he does not contemplate limitation thereto, but does include all forms and modifications thereof within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A launching mechanism arranged for cooperative relationship with a gun barrel, a projectile, and projectile repellent means attached to the nose of said projectile, said launching mechanism comprising in combination a body member, means for attaching said body member This releases the lip 36 I at which the mortar to said barrel, retaining means for holding said projectile in a protruding position in the muzzle portion of said barrel, said retaining means including a yoke member adapted to cradle the nose of said. projectile, pivot means for said yoke member positioned on opposite sides of said body member, motor means for depressing said yoke member, means cooperating with said yoke member for energizing said motor means, lever means for actuating said motor means, means for releasing said projectile, and means co-acting with said yoke member for concurrently firing said repellent means upon the operation of said release means.

2. A launching mechanism arranged for 00- operative relationship with a gun barrel, a projectile, and projectile repellant means attached to the nose of said projectile; said launching mechanism comprising in combination: a body member; means for attaching said body member to said barrel; projectile-retaining means pivoted on said body member and arranged to cradle the nose of said projectile in a protruding position in the muzzle portion of said gun barrel; motor means for releasing said retaining means from said projectile; trigger means for actuating said motor means; and means for concurrently firing said repellant means upon the operation of said trigger means.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said retaining means includes a yoke member arranged to cradle the nose of said projectile in a manner that prevents the forward or rearward movement of said projectile in said barrel while said yoke is in engagement with said projectile.

4. The combination of claim 2 that includes means for energizing said motor means, and trigger means arranged to concurrently actuate said motor means and said repellant means.

OTI-IA R. RODERICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

